Raptors vs Wizards: Raptors Rebound to Nip the Wizards

The wheels came off for Toronto last Friday as they couldn't stop the Wizards' scoring and succumbed 122-103. Game 3 was mostly close until Washington outscored Toronto 39-32 in the second and cemented it with a 32-21 third-quarter run. Toronto played decently on offence but lackadaisical on defence. That won't happen twice as they tighten things up and take game 4.

Raptors vs Wizards Game 4 Odds

My Team's Next MatchToronto Raptors

Right off the getgo, the Wizardslet the Raptors know they’re not the same pushovers from the previous game. Washington exchanged fire with Toronto in the first period but caught fire in the second shooting 69.6 per cent and finished the Raptors off in the third when Toronto couldn’t keep up. It was simply Washington’s night as the Wizards shot 55.3 per cent overall and won the turnover battle.

Washington’s stars showed up. John Wall and Bradley Beal scored a combined 45 points in the second and third and 56 points overall. Beal, who only scored nine points in game 2, scored 28 points on 52.6 per cent shooting with four threes and was a game-high +19. Centre Marcin Gortat who didn’t score at all last game finished with 16 points and a +12 rating.

Raptors vs Wizards Betting Trends

Toronto is coming into this game as slight favourites but plenty of recent data suggests they are difficult to trust in this spot and could be in for a nailbiter.

Toronto is 1-4 SU in their last five road games

Washington is 3-1 SU at home in their last four games

Toronto is 3-2 SU while playing Washington on the road in their last five

Washington has outrebounded Toronto 120-108 during this series

The total has gone over for all three games this series

The Raptors looked to be on their way to controlling this game going up on the Wizards early. But thanks to some nifty playmaking, and a slight boost from the home crowd, the Wizards rallied and never looked back. Toronto was having a solid game offensively but was just conceding too many baskets to Washington letting them shoot over sixty per cent in periods two and three.

The third is when it all went bad for Toronto. They shot just 36.8 per cent while Washington continued to shoot well. The Wizard starters outplayed Toronto’s but the significant difference is the transition game. Washington outscored Toronto 21-10 on the fastbreak. They won the turnover battle 13-19 and also had more assists. They just played more efficiently.

Wall, Beal, and Gortat combined for 72 of Washington’s 122 points. Like they showed on paper, the starters did the heavy lifting. Forward Mike Scott continued to stay hot off the bench making all four of his field goals with a +14 plus/minus, second-best in the game.

The Raptors were mostly outplayed in the backcourt. DeMar DeRozan led the team with 23 points on 45.5 per cent shooting but had the second-worst plus/minus with -17. Backup C.J. Miles was -22 and only had five points. Game 2 catalyst Serge Ibaka was limited to three points. All three will need better games if the Raptors are to prevent this becoming a best-of-three.

Raptors vs Wizards Game 4 Prediction

Defence. That’s what coach Dwane Casey will likely be talking about. Toronto shot better from deep and played well on offence but just let Washington score at will. The intensity just wasn’t there. A silver lining is towards the end of the game, Toronto was clawing back slowly. Washington was up by 22 at one point but Toronto chipped it to 13 before garbage time.

Toronto is 18-5 coming off a loss and hasn’t lost consecutive games to Washington since the embarrassing 2015 playoff sweep. Despite their unflattering stats on the road, Toronto has embraced playoff basketball and will shrug off the loss and get back to playing their brand of basketball.

Taking Wall and Beal out early will be key as they account for over sixty per cent of Washington’s offence but at least limiting one of the two will be huge. Expect Toronto to match Washington’s improved play and edge them in a game reminiscent of the series opener.

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